In the past 12 months there has been a lot of talk surrounding gen AI (artificial intelligence) and the potential impact on business, but where exactly are we with AI in the construction industry? The results from the new report are a little bit surprising, but perhaps some in the industry might agree. Let’s take a look.
Having surveyed 3,000 people, AIPRM suggests almost one in six (14%) of business owners are fearful of ChatGPT and refuse to use it for work.
In this survey, we also see there are five top industries that are fearful of gen AI. Topping the list are healthcare, construction, manufacturing, administrative and support services, and professional, scientific, and technical services, respectively. So, we see here construction is in the top two, only following the healthcare industry.
America is home to the most ChatGPT users worldwide and in turn, businesses have been able to save both time and money. ChatGPT, in particular, dominates the AI tool sector with an average usage duration of 30 mins. Interestingly, the user base is mostly male, at 74.16%, revealing a significant gender disparity in its audience, according to writerbuddy.ai.
An MIT study suggests gen AI can improve a worker’s performance by as much as 40% compared with workers who don’t use it. Another AI Adoption in Software report shows teams who adopt AI can go 3.5 times faster. The benefits abound.
However, the fear of artificial intelligence still exists for many—and it seems to be the case for some in construction, considering the results and feedback from this survey.
The top reason many American businesses are fearful of ChatGPT and gen AI is because of security risks, with 22% of respondents admitting so in the survey. Other concerns include questioning misinterpretation (21%), inconsistent answers (17%), fabricated information (15%), and legal and compliance issues (15%).
Still, it is hard to ignore the potential benefits the gen AI technology offers to the construction industry. With a labor shortage, the technology can help to speed up processes, improve customer service, and ultimately win more bids.
We see some of the best uses of AI include responding to email, answering financial questions, planning travel itinerary, preparing for a job interview, and for interacting with customers. In fact, AIPRM suggests the most common use of AI in business is for customer service.
When will generative AI take off in construction? I suppose the answer probably lies in which construction company you are talking to. For some, it already has taken off. For many, the answer is 2024. For others, the answer is not now. The reality, though, is every company needs to be prepared that gen AI is here.
As we begin to wrap up 2023 and head into 2024, we must consider the opportunities technology presents. We must consider how it will help meet our business objectives for the year ahead. And, of course, we must also consider the security implications this will have for our business. ChatGPT and gen AI are here to stay. How we incorporate them into our business is important for each company. Perhaps the best advice is learning how to shape your business and to secure your business. First and foremost is getting the right people in the right positions to work and develop the tools to build. We will see a host of new positions created while a host of other jobs will most certainly be reduced. Do not rush. Determine the roles and responsibilities and move the needle from there. Now is the time to ask the tough questions to prepare for a better tomorrow. How will you start 2024?
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